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Public Transportation

The U.S. Senate’s six-year $350-billion proposed transportation bill has taken on miasmatic qualities, as lawmakers persist in altering its terms in advance of a vote. This has, however, lead to what could potentially be a boon to the public transit sector, as lawmakers shifted more funds to...

While there has been much talk in recent months regarding transit improvements in the state, to the degree that an artery of service is being disbanded to free up cash in order to improve other lines of service, a recent hearing took place during which State Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn’s...

Indianapolis city planners have announced their intent to offer developers huge savings— up to tens of thousands of dollars on large-scale projects—by reducing the required number of parking spaces for certain developments on the condition that bike racks, electric-car charging stations or other “...

When the evening commute begins today, riders in select Colorado areas will have a new option to travel between some of Colorado’s biggest cities.
Bustang is a newly launched bus service aimed at connecting major cities and employment centers in the state. The service, which is Colorado’s first...

Following Washington state lawmakers approval of a 12-cent hike in the state gas tax for road projects statewide, Sound Transit was given the authority to raise $15 billion to extend light rail up and down the Puget Sound region.
“As you build a light rail network, the ridership grows...

According to local Portland, Maine, officials, Amtrak’s Downeaster is falling temporary victim to some long-anticipated tie replacement work and that delays and cancellations look to persist into the coming weeks.
The summer tourism season is now underway, but the rail authority is forced to bus...

Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) drivers walked off the job at 3 a.m., beginning a 72-hour strike. Union officials declared that the “work stoppage” will run through 3 a.m. Saturday.
MCTS spokesman Brendan Conway said in a statement, “ATU leaders called for a work stoppage despite...

The waft out of Springfield is not promising for Amtrak, but that has not impeded the agency’s intention to make a major mark on a Windy City landmark.
According to officials, Amtrak plans to open restaurants, coffee shops and a grocery store as part of its plan to make Union Station a...

In an day and age when the earmarking of scant funding is a perpetual political hot potato, the state of Tennessee is poised to step outside the arena of vague promises and make tax-based strides toward transit improvements.
Gov. Bill Haslam recently stipulated that proceeds from a potential fuel...

Bit of a dip
According to a report issued by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) approximately 2.6 billion trips were taken on U.S. public transportation systems in the first quarter of 2015, representing a 0.7% dip compared with the same period in 2014.
“On a national level,...

A top official at the ride-sharing service Lyft and Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, say Tennessee’s new law, which allows car-booking companies such as Lyft and Uber to operate statewide, has been applauded by both officials at Lyft and Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson), as a model for other states looking to...

Following the catastrophic collapse of the embankment supporting the tracks near McCormick Boulevard north of Howard Street and south of Oakton Street on May 17, Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Yellow Line, which runs from the city into nearby Skokie, suspended service indefinitely. According to...

Amtrak’s safety issues continue to compound—and now it looks though a delayed application fo federal safety standards may reroute or even close a major artery in the Southwest.
Late last week, Amtrak told congressional leaders that it might terminate the Southwest Chief service altogether...

Yesterday, Monday, June 8, Metra Rail reopened the east ends of the Downers Grove Main Street platforms following the morning rush. The Main Street station is couched in the heart of the village’s downtown area and serves as a primary commuter stop between downtown Chicago and far western Aurora...

In Orlando, Fla., commuter rail may well get a big boost, if SunRail officials' intentions come to fruition. At present, the current end of the northbound line is in DeBary, but SunRail officials last Friday formally requested federal money to extend service to DeLand, enabling the agency to...

In a project that will, once opened, run 43 miles of track from the industrial parks near Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport to a transit station in downtown San Rafael, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit project looks to be passenger-ready late next year.
This stretch of track accounts for...

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, in partnership with labor leaders, is scheduled to break ground on a new transit hub that will make it easier to get around O'Hare International Airport.
The aim of the facility is to provide a major access point for travelers to and from O’Hare. At present, the...

Not two weeks ago, Roads & Bridges reported on the launch of luxury bus service in the San Francisco area by Leap Transit, a move that was being greeted by commuters are both a welcome alternative and a divisive mode that seemed to segregate the wealthy from their blue-collar counterparts. Now...

Passenger rail service Amtrak was recently ordered by federal regulators to immediately improve safety along its Northeast Corridor from Washington to Boston; this demand comes in the wake of the disastrous derailment of Northeast Regional Train 188, which had been traveling at greater than twice...

Earlier today, Roads & Bridges reported on Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s intent to cut funding for transportation the his state over the next six years. Almost as though karma were spring-loaded for action, a major artery of citywide public transit answered—and answered with vigor.
Late...